Swarthmore vs. Virginia Tech

Deciding between Swarthmore College and Virginia Tech? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Swarthmore College
Virginia Tech

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Swarthmore Swarthmore, PA
  • Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Swarthmore Large Suburban
  • Virginia Tech Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Swarthmore 1,623
  • Virginia Tech 38,857
  • Type
  • Swarthmore Private 4 Year
  • Virginia Tech Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Swarthmore #40
  • Virginia Tech #142
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Swarthmore -
  • Virginia Tech -
  • Status
  • Swarthmore Non-profit
  • Virginia Tech Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Swarthmore
  • Virginia Tech

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Virginia Tech $15,948
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Virginia Tech $37,764
  • Room & Board
  • Swarthmore $20,308
  • Virginia Tech $16,550
  • Average Net Price
  • Swarthmore $22,469
  • Virginia Tech $24,912
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Swarthmore $61,634
  • Virginia Tech $9,168
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Swarthmore 57%
  • Virginia Tech 60%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Swarthmore 13,065
  • Virginia Tech 52,498
  • Admitted
  • Swarthmore 975
  • Virginia Tech 28,758
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Swarthmore 7.5%
  • Virginia Tech 54.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Swarthmore 43.8%
  • Virginia Tech 25.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Swarthmore 1530
  • Virginia Tech 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • Swarthmore 34
  • Virginia Tech 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Swarthmore 3.9
  • Virginia Tech 3.97
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Swarthmore A
  • Virginia Tech A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Swarthmore Elite
  • Virginia Tech Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Swarthmore Extreme
  • Virginia Tech Low
  • ACT Range
  • Swarthmore 33/35
  • Virginia Tech 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Swarthmore 1490/1560
  • Virginia Tech 1280/1450
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Swarthmore Test optional
  • Virginia Tech Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027
  • Virginia Tech Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Swarthmore 7:1
  • Virginia Tech 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Swarthmore
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
  • Virginia Tech
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (19%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Swarthmore 95%
  • Virginia Tech 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Swarthmore $65,800
  • Virginia Tech $65,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Swarthmore 87%
  • Virginia Tech 81%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Swarthmore $19,500
  • Virginia Tech $23,966
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Swarthmore $201
  • Virginia Tech $247

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Swarthmore 48%
  • Virginia Tech 56%
  • % Women
  • Swarthmore 52%
  • Virginia Tech 44%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Swarthmore Very High
  • Virginia Tech Medium
  • HBCU
  • Swarthmore No
  • Virginia Tech No
  • % White
  • Swarthmore 42%
  • Virginia Tech 68%
  • % Asian
  • Swarthmore 17%
  • Virginia Tech 9%
  • % Black
  • Swarthmore 6%
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Swarthmore 13%
  • Virginia Tech 5%
  • % Native American
  • Swarthmore 0%
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Swarthmore 0%
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Swarthmore 8%
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • % International
  • Swarthmore 11%
  • Virginia Tech 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Swarthmore 3%
  • Virginia Tech 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Swarthmore 10%
  • Virginia Tech 61%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Swarthmore 77%
  • Virginia Tech 34%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Swarthmore Yes
  • Virginia Tech Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Swarthmore Yes
  • Virginia Tech No
  • Meal Plan
  • Swarthmore Yes
  • Virginia Tech Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Swarthmore No
  • Virginia Tech No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Swarthmore No
  • Virginia Tech No

Comparable Facts

Compare Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, PA with Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Virginia Tech is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (38,857 students vs. 1,623 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Swarthmore College is located in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting); Virginia Tech is in Blacksburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Swarthmore College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Tech is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Swarthmore College 7:1; Virginia Tech 17:1.

Swarthmore vs. Virginia Tech Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Swarthmore or Virginia Tech? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Swarthmore College than Virginia Tech ($22,469 vs. $24,912).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Tech are 18.5% lower than at Swarthmore College ($16,550 vs. $20,308).
  • Swarthmore College is 310.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Virginia Tech (about $49,546 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $15,948.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 73.4% higher at Swarthmore than at Virginia Tech (about $27,730 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $37,764.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia Tech than at Swarthmore College (60% vs. 57%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 572.3% larger than aid received by Virginia Tech students ($61,634 vs. $9,168).

Swarthmore vs. Virginia Tech Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Swarthmore or Virginia Tech? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Virginia Tech and Swarthmore.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Swarthmore College (1530) is 160 points higher than at Virginia Tech (1370).
  • Incoming Swarthmore students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at Virginia Tech).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Swarthmore College 1490/1560; Virginia Tech 1280/1450.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Swarthmore College 33/35; Virginia Tech 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Swarthmore - Test optional; Virginia Tech - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027; Virginia Tech Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Virginia Tech students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Swarthmore (3.9).
  • Virginia Tech has a higher acceptance rate (54.8%) than Swarthmore (7.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43.8% at Swarthmore vs. 25.3% at Virginia Tech.

Swarthmore vs. Virginia Tech Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Swarthmore and Virginia Tech? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Swarthmore College's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than Virginia Tech's (82%).
  • Graduates from Swarthmore College earn a median of about $800 more per year than Virginia Tech graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,800 vs. $65,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Swarthmore College graduates have a $4,466 lower median loan debt than Virginia Tech graduates ($19,500 vs. $23,966).
  • Among borrowers, Swarthmore graduates have an estimated $46 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Virginia Tech graduates ($201 vs. $247).
  • More Swarthmore graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Virginia Tech students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 81%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.